Return-envelop.



No. 690,500. Patented lan. 7, 1902.

T. C. WEST.

RETURN ENVELOP.

y (Application led Apr. 4, 1901.1

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIl/VIOTHY O. l/VEST, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

RETURN-ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,500, dated January '7, 1902.

Application filed April 4, 1901. Serial No. 54,277. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom; it may concern: l p

Beit known that I, TIMOTHY C. IVEST, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Return-Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved return-envelop which shall be simple in construction, easy to manufacture with a minimum amount of material, and which can be used in a practical way for every purpose for which an ordinary envelop can be used without any folding or moistening of the parts beyond those employed in the use of ordinary envelops.

In the manufacture of the envelop at the factory a blank is first out, so shaped as to provide the material of the proper form to constitute the front and back of the envelop, one part, either the front or the back, being provided at each end with a narrow wing to assistin securing the front to the back to form a pocket, and each part forming the back and front being formed with a sealing-ap. The wings are folded inward, and the portion of the body forming the front is secured by means of the wings to the portion of the body forming the back when the back and front parts are folded toward each other. One of the iiaps is so folded as to be inclosed in the pocket, while the other flap is arranged on the outside like an ordinary envelop ready for sealing. Each iiap is provided with a suitable adhesive for sealing in the ordinary way.

AThe outside iiap may be folded in the-usual manner without sealing, and in this form the envelop is ready to leave the factory and is ready for use.

In using the envelop for the first time the letter or other matter is inclosed in the pocket and the outside flap is used for sealing the envelop in the ordinary way. When the envelop is received, it is opened in the ordinary way by detaching the outside flap, and the contents of the envelop may be removed. The same envelop may be used to send thereturn message or other inclosure, the inside iap being turned outward and then applied to the outside in the usual manner. The sender of the envelop with the first message has only to seal itin the same manner as envelope are ordinarily sealed, and the sender of the remeans used for securing the back part of the envelop to the front part requires less material than most other envelops.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a blank from which my improved en velop is made. Fig. 2 shows the blank with the side wings folded. Fig. 3 shows the blank with the side wings folded and one of the flaps (used in sealing the envelop when used the second time) folded. Fig. 4 shows the next step in the process of folding, consisting in securing the front of the envelop to the back piece thereof by means of the side wings. Fig. 5 shows the envelop sealed and addressed and ready to be sent out for the first time. Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of the envelop shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of the envelop with the first Hap removed and the envelop sealed by the second Hap and ready to be returned. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the envelop with the first flap removed and the second iiap ready to be used to seal the envelop with the return message.

The blank shown in Fig. l consists of the parts A and B, which constitute the front and back of the envelop and together form the body portion thereof. Each of these parts is provided with a sealing-flap C or C', and the part B is provided with narrow wings D.

Glue or other suitable adhesive is applied to the flap C is folded inward. When the wings and the flap are thus folded, the blank may be bent on the line te x, causing the partAto adhere to the wings D, thus completing the en velop, as shown in Fig. 4. The Hap C may be folded over without being sealed before it leaves the factory. The envelop thus constructed is ready to be packed and shipped and is ready for use.

When a letter or other matter is inclosed in the envelop, it may be sealed in the ordinary way, as indicated in Fig. 5, by simply moistening the adhesive on the flap C' and pressing the flap onto the body portion of the envelop. The envelop may be addressed, as indicated in Fig. 5, on one side, the return address being placed on the opposite side of the envelop. When sealed in the manner indicated in Fig. 5, the envelop will, in cross-section, appear as shown in Fig. G. When the letter is received, the fiap C is torn off and the contents ofthe envelop removed. The iiap C may then be turned outward in the manner indicated in Fig. 8, and the envelop is then ready to receive the return message. This envelop may be sealed by simply moistening the adhesive on the flap C and pressing it down upon the body of the envelop, and the address may be Written 0n the part B of the body portion, or, if this part has been used for the first address the address may be written on the opposite port-ion of the envelop. It will thus be seen that either user of the envelop has no parts to fold or moisten except the flaps, which has to be done in all envelops. No special familiarity with the envelop is required in order to use it.

It will be observed that the only additional material required in the manufacture of the envelop is material for the additional flap, while the wings D, used for attaching the two parts of the body portion, require only a small amount of additional material, which is less than is used in many envelops.

If desired, a stamp covering the postage for reply may be secured to the flap C, which is folded inside the envelop, as shown in Fig. 6, when itis first sent out.

The envelop may be made in any convenient size, and may be opened at the end instead of at the top, the blank having the same general formation when opened at the end, but being relatively narrower in such case.

I claim as my invention- Areturn-envelop comprising abody portion consisting of back and front pieces, one of which is provided with straight, narrow side wings, and each of which is provided at its o uter end with a sealing-flap, the wings on one body portion being turned inwardly, and secu red by adhesive directly to the other body portion, the sealing-flap on the body portion not provided with side wings being turned inward, and inclosed in the envelop, but being unattached to the wings or the other body portion, said flaps being both provided with adhesive on their inner sides.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

TIMOTHY C. WEST.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. ,WESL WILLIAM F. OKEEFE. 

